Shadow Slave

Shock. Confusion. Joy. Reprieve. Peace. Fear…

Sunny sat on a flimsy chair in the waiting area in front of an armored door, shell-shocked by what had happened. What was happening. Failing to envision what was going to happen.

His mind was thoroughly scrambled.

The waiting area was situated on a different level of the hospital complex. By now, the one devastated by the recent events was already put off. The fires were gone. Teams of the Academy staff were sifting through the wreckage, trying to determine the amount of damage done to the structure of the building and various equipment.

Those wounded by the explosion and the members of the security team were being hastily treated. It seemed that no lives were in danger… mostly because Sunny had gotten there in time.

What exactly had transpired?

He had a good idea.

Back when Sunny had Awakened, he had unconsciously activated his Aspect Ability before fully regaining his consciousness. As the result, he had come to his senses standing near the sleeping pod instead of inside of it.

Shadow Step was a teleportation Ability… what if he had gotten a direct damage Ability?

What if he had been a Tyrant, at that?

This was not an uncommon occurrence among the Awakened. Kai had gone through something similar, if Sunny remembered correctly. The same must have happened to Nephis.

It was just that her new Ability had turned out to be nothing short of devastating. As expected from the daughter of the Immortal Flame clan…

After spending a whole year on the Forgotten Shore and then two more wandering alone through the Dream Realm, she must have been extremely disoriented by the return to the waking world. Using her Aspect caused her to be in the throes of terrible pain, as well. Her Flaw was very cruel, after all.

Perhaps Neph could have regained her composure, but sadly, the automated battle systems of the hospital complex were not sophisticated enough to differentiate between an unknown Awakened and an active threat. Even the members of the security team had failed to make the distinction.

All they had perceived was that the guarded room where the heir of the Immortal Flame slept had been destroyed, and that a seemingly inhuman apparition stood among the fires.

In any case, the turret had unleashed a hail of bullets on Nephis, causing her muddled mind to switch into combat mode. After that, all she saw was a threat.

In combat, you had to kill the enemy and prevent the enemy from killing you.

knew how much damage she would have

'Lucky…'

even slow her down. Not even the cage he had created from shadows could withstand the heat of her

Sunny scowled, then grimaced.

with the pressure. Both of them were waiting for the doctors examining unconscious Nephis to deliver some

patted the blind girl on the shoulder, then

"Cas… my hand."

a confused

"...Sorry."

alone in the waiting area. In fact, a small crowd of people was there with them — doctors, faculty members, a few disheveled government agents, Academy administrators… everyone

the wall and typing something in her communicator, her expression calm and nonchalant. She seemed to have understood

point of negotiating with Sunny and Cassie when everything had just changed? If Valor wanted to recruit the members of Changing Star's cohort and the Fire Keepers, they were going to have to speak

Valor

eyes

'...Right. There's also that.'

situation had already been incredibly murky and complicated, and with Neph's return, everything was turned upside down and made

it was

Everything was changing.

own situation had also just turned much more dire, for obvious

to keep a sincere smile from appearing on

be tense. And he

Incredibly happy.

felt as though… as though something precious, something vital that he had

was back,

hell is this nonsense? Since when am

tried to cover his raw emotions with a veneer of cynicism, in truth, Sunny

circle of runes inside the Crimson Spire and escaped the Forgotten Shore,

that, nothing had been the

He gritted his teeth.

matter! Take a hold of